[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 8, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN RECOGNITION OF THE 170TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF OXFORD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 8, 2022

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
170th Anniversary of the City of Oxford.
  A part of Alabama's Third Congressional District, Oxford, is located 
in Calhoun County. The Muscogee Creek Nation called Choccolocco Valley 
home for 12,000 years. In 1540, Hernando DeSoto crossed the region on 
behalf of Spain in search of riches. France claimed the lands in 1699 
after successfully establishing settlements at Mobile, New Orleans and 
Biloxi. Even though France controlled the area that would later become 
Oxford, it was still inhabited by the Creek Nation. England gained 
possession after the signing of the Treaty of Paris at the end of the 
Seven Years War. In 1789, the entire northern portion of Alabama was 
owned by Georgia. The lands were given to the federal government in 
1802 as part of the Mississippi Territory.
  Alabama was admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819. Benton County 
was incorporated on December 18, 1832, and included present-day 
Calhoun, Cleburne and portions of Cherokee and Talladega Counties. At 
the time of incorporation, the only incorporated towns in Benton County 
were Jacksonville and White Plains. In the early 1830s, the Snow and 
Simmons families were two of the first European descent families to 
settle among the Creek natives. Snow owned the land south of present-
day Choccolocco Street, and Simmons owned the land north. An early 
legend recalls the area south was called ``Skace Grease'' and the area 
north ``Lick Skillet.'' Local folklore says a traveler was passing 
through and needed a place for rest and food. As he was visiting, he 
was directed to ``lick the skillet'' because they were ``skace of 
grease.''
  Oxford was established on February 7, 1852, the bill proposed by 
Representative Matthew Allen of Benton County. The limits of the town 
included one square mile from the center at the male academy on Second 
Street. Elisha S. Simmons, Edmund P. Gains, John A. Turnipseed, Stephen 
C. Williams, and Woodson Seay were authorized to run on a ballot for 
the election of three council members and an intendant (mayor). It was 
decided that on the first Saturday of each March, annual municipal 
elections would be held for offices of council and mayor.
  On February 21, 1860, Oxford was chartered for the second time due to 
redrawing of boundary lines and the changing of the name of Benton 
County to Calhoun County. The limits of the town included a half-mile 
in each direction from the railroad culvert at Spring Street. Elections 
were to be held on the first Monday of each March annually. In this 
incorporation, the law called for the election of seven councilmembers 
and an intendant. The councilmembers and intendant were given the power 
to elect a marshal, clerk and treasurer. Those who have served as mayor 
of Oxford, respectively, include Elisha S. Simmons, Dr. Stephen C. 
Williams, Samuel C. Kelly, James S. Kelly, Edgar H. Hanna, Charles T. 
Hilton, William J. Borden, John B. McCain, Dr. Thomas C. Hill, Robert 
P. Thomason, William H. Griffin, John N. Gunnels, Thomas A. Howle, Maj. 
William A. Orr, George W. Eichelberger, William C. Gray, Dreadzil P. 
Haynes, Asa C. Allen, William R. Norton, Davis C. Cooper, Robert R. 
Pope, Dr. Thomas B. Howle, Carl D. Pace, Hemphill G. Whiteside, Alvis 
A. Hamric, Bester A. Adams, Earl R. Martin, Therman E. Whitmore, Leon 
Smith, and Alton Craft.
  The Oxford Police Department was established at the time of the first 
incorporation. However, the earliest police force only included one 
town marshal. The first recorded marshal for Oxford was Francis M. 
Gardner, who served in the early 1880s. The Oxford Fire Department was 
organized on May 18, 1884, as a volunteer department. Major William A. 
Orr served as the first chief.
  In 1904, the citizens of Oxford were convinced that the town needed a 
permanent city hall for the purposes of conducting municipal business. 
In September of that year, it was decided city hall would be located in 
a building on Main Street and the fire department would share the 
building. An armory was established adjacent to the building for the 
Calhoun Rifles. The calaboose was located several yards south on Spring 
Street.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in wishing Oxford a happy 170th 
anniversary.

                          ____________________